BBC cameraman and presenter Gordon Buchanan embarked on a remarkable three-week journey into the heart of the Canadian wilderness for his latest documentary, Wild Horses, The Rockies And Me. The film, airing on BBC Two, showcases his mission to get closer than ever to a majestic herd of wild horses, descendants of steeds first brought to the Americas by Spanish conquistadors in the 1500s.
A Unique Approach to Wildlife Filmmaking
Buchanan, a 53-year-old Scot, has carved out a distinctive niche at the BBC. Eschewing the corporation's traditional big-budget epic style, he favours a low-key, deeply personal approach. His method relies on exceptional patience and a profound empathy for animals, allowing him to capture uniquely intimate footage without relying on drones or long telephoto lenses.
In the Canadian Rockies, his technique involved meticulously mimicking the horses' body language to put them at ease. At one point, crouched in the grass, he even gave his own hair a shake in imitation of a horse's mane. "I've been behaving more horse than human," he admitted by the end of his stay.
Living with a Tonne-and-a-Half Giants
The wild horses Buchanan lived alongside are formidable creatures, weighing up to one and a half tonnes and capable of a fatal kick. They are noted for their flowing manes, likened in the programme to the locks of a Spanish aristocrat. Buchanan's mission was to integrate himself with the herd, viewing them not as individual specimens but as members of a complex family group.
While he occasionally over-dramatised the risks—such as fumbling for bear spray at a rustle in the woods—the real magic of the documentary lay in the quiet moments. His patience was rewarded when he won the trust of two inquisitive foals, nicknamed Socks and Boots, who by the end of three weeks allowed him to pat their coats as they investigated his camera gear.
Buchanan's Established Wildlife Portfolio
This documentary continues Buchanan's signature style, evident in his back catalogue of BBC2 repeats this month, including Gorilla Family And Me and His Epic Camel Adventure. His broad portfolio features close encounters with bears, wolves, cheetahs, and tigers. He has also pioneered innovative techniques, such as in the series Animals With Cameras, where he attached miniature video recorders to meerkats, chimps, and seals.
Though he has contributed to major series like Sir David Attenborough's Planet Earth II, Buchanan truly shines in these smaller-scale, personal projects. Wild Horses, The Rockies And Me is a testament to his belief that the most powerful wildlife storytelling comes from building trust and understanding social groups, offering viewers a privileged glimpse into the lives of these magnificent animals.
